Bottle-capping machine



April 21, 1931. w. H. WALMSLEY BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE s Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMWM W. H. WALMSLEY BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE Filed Feb. 9, 1929 April 21, 1931.

Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. WALMSLEY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE Application filed February 9, 1929. Serial No. 338,742.

The present invention relates to improvements in machines employed for applying disk-like caps, generally of metal, to bottles,

and particularly to machines for this pur- 5 pose of the type in which a series of super posed caps are initially positioned within a substantially vertical magazine or container,

and successively transferred to a position be- I heath a capping die positioned above a hot-- 10 tle support, said die and bottle being relatively movable to force the cap over the mouth of the bottle.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated in the drawings 1 hereinafter referred to, the capping die is moved relative to the bottle, and, more specifically, the cap magazine is also movable vertically relative tothe bottle support.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, of parts of the machine. 25 Figure 3 is a similar view showing the parts in a different relation from Figure 2.

Figure l is a similar section with the movable parts in a position intermediate those of Figures 2 and 3. 3 Figure 5 is an elevation of a portion of ld'igure a. V

Figure 6 is a plan partly in section on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure '4" is a view partly in elevation and partly in section on the line 7-7 of Figure 3. Y

Figure 8 is a view of the cap shifting slide detached.

Figure 9 is a vertical section, on a slightly enlarged scale, of the bottle supporting base.

Figure 10 is a view of the sections of the bottle supporting base detached.

Figure 11 is a detail view.

Referring to the drawings, in the several figures of which like reference characters designate corresponding parts, the machine includes a bottle support comprising a base frame 1 and uprights 2, which rise from one end of the base, and are connected by tie members 3, 4, including transverse plates 5, 6.

The uprights 2 are, as shown, preferably strips or bars substantially rectangular in cross section, arranged in parallelism and having their upper portions spaced apart slightly less than the lower portions, which are directly connected to the base frame 1.

Between the uprights 2 extends a substan: tially horizontal frame having guide portions 7 bearing against the edges of the uprights, and preventing tilting of said frame while permitting it to move bodily vertically of the support as will be hereinafter described.

The vertically movable frame comprises a base plate 8, which extends between the uprights 2 and projects beyond opposite edges thereof. The edges of said plate atone side of the support are bent to form flanges 9 providing a channel in which is adapted to reciprocate a cap transfer slide that will be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

In the portion of the plate 8 which projects over the bottle support on the base frame 1 is formed an aperture, through which the neck of the bottle to be capped may project, and this aperture is partially surrounded by a depending toothed guard 10, which assists in maintaining the bottle in proper vertical position while the cap is being applied thereto, as will be hereinafter described. i

A capping head comprising sidewalls 11, and inwardly deflected top flanges 12 is secured to or formed integral with the plate 8 and constitutes a part of the vertically movable frame before mentioned. A tubular holder or guide 13 for the cap magazine, hereinafter referred to, also forms a part of the vertically movable frame rising upward therefrom. i

The cap magazine per se comprises a tube 15, in which a column of caps may be arranged in superposed relation. This magazine tube extends through the holder 13 and is free to move vertically for a limited distance.

The reciprocable slide before referred to comprises a frame including side members 16, an end 17 and a transverse cross bar 18. The sides 16 extend some .distance in advance of he cross bar and are formed, as shown, into two fingers 19, which are spaced apart a ice distance substantially equal to the exterior diameter of the bodies of the caps and the upper surfaces of these fingers are formed as cams, which, as the slide moves in one direction, enter notches formed in the magazine tube 15 and raise such tube bodily from contact with the base 8 of the horizontal frame so that the cross bar 18 may slide heneath the lower end of the magazine tube, as it transfers the lowest cap of the series to a position over the aforesaid bottle neck receiving aperture in the slide. The cam surfaces on the fingers 19 not only raise the magazine tube, as above described, but also lift slightly all of the caps within that tube except the lowest one, thus relieving the latter of the wei ht of the superposed caps and permitting the lowest cap to be easily positioned over the bottle neck receiving aperture as described.

During such movement of the cap transferring slide, the cap engaged therewith is supported on the bottom plate or member of the vertically movable frame, and at the completion of the movement of the slide in the direction referred to a portion of the edge of the transferred cap is received within a recess 21.

A dog 22 carried by a spring arm 23 attached to the lower face of the bottom plate of the Vertically movable frame normally projects through an aperture in such plate, but 1s easily depressed by the movement of the lowest cap in the series so as not to materially obstruct the positioning of said cap over the bottle neck receiving aperture referred to. As soon as the cap has passed over this dog 22, it is lifted by its spring support, and in this position, as shown in Fig. 2, it positively prevents movement of the cap which has been positioned to be applied to a bottle when the slide moves in the opposite direction.

At such time the transferred cap is held by the recess 21 and dog 22 in alignment with the bottle neck receiving aperture, and a slapping die 25.

' e capping die 25 is within the capping head before described, and the stem 26 er:- tends upward between the members 12 of the cap ing head, and through the members 5, 6, o the main support.

The upper end of the die stem is connected by a yoke 30 to the bifurcated arms 31, 32, of a lever, which embraces the uprights 2 of the support, and is fulcrumed thereto, as at 33, said lever including a suitable handle portion 34.

A coiled spring surrounds the die stem, the upper end thereof being connected to a head 41 hearing against the under-surface of the support member 6, and the opposite end of said spring rests on the support member 5. The lever arms 31, 32, are connected by links with the end bar 17 of the cap transfer slide before referred to.

Therefore, at each actuation of the lever the die will be reciprocated vertically and the cap transfer slide reciprocated horizontally, the movement in one direction being positive by power applied to the handle 34, and the return movement being assisted by the action of the spring 40.

As the die is moved downward and the bottle to be capped is held stationary, the cap in alignment with the die will be pushed over the mouth of the bottle and the flaring edge portions thereof deflected inward to securely retain it in operative position.

A coil spring (30 is shown as surrounding the die stem 26 within the capping head to cushion the upward, return, movement of said die after a cap has been applied.

The vertical movementof the magazine tube 15, before referred to, is controlled by a lug 15a projecting radially therefrom through aligned slots in the holder 13 and a stop plate that is connected to said holder. lVhen the magazine tube is in the positions shown by Figures 2 and 4, that is, has been moved upward by the cap transferring slide, the lug 15a will be at the top of said slots, and when the slide has been withdrawn or is in the relation shown in Figure 8, the tube will fall by gravity until it rests upon the bottom plate of the vertically movable frame.

When the slide has been moved to position a cap over the bottle neck receiving aperture, a stationary guide 71 rising from the bottom plate of the vertically movable frame will be positioned in a notch 17a formed in the end bar of the slide.

In machines of the character herein described, considerable difiiculty is frequently experienced in assembling the caps in the magazine tube. To assist in this operation I preferably provide a second aperture 72 in the bottom plate of the vertically movable frame in axial alignment with the magazine tube and employ an implement such as is illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 2. This comprises a suitable length of wire which is bent upon itself, and has one end formed as a hook embracing a shank 81. which, at its upper end, is provided with a disk 82, the dimensions of which are such that a cap can be readily loosely seated thereon. As the series of caps are superposed on this head 82, the implement is drawn downward through the opening 72, which is of sufficient diameter to permit free passage of the head 82, but is of less diameter than the lower, flared, edges of the caps.

As it is desirable that a single machine be adapted to apply caps to bottles of different heights, the present improvements include a bottle stand which is adjustable so that the height thereof may be varied. As shown, it

comprises two members 90, 91, the contacting faces of which are inclined, and a fastening means consisting of a notched plate 100, attached to the member 90, and a pin 101 on the upper section 91 permits these two sections to be readily adjusted to bring the upper surface of the member 91 at the proper distance to cause the mouth of the bottle resting thereon to extend through the aperture beneath the capping die 25 when the vertioally movable frame is in its lowered position.

To avoid making the magazine tube 15 unduly long, a detachable extension comprising a slotted cylinder which can be readily fitted over the end of the tube 15, as shown in Figure 11, may be provided.

The operation ofthe invention may be briefly described as follows:

Assuming'that the parts are in the position shown in Figure 2, in which a cap is represented in position over the bottle neck receiving aperature in the bottom of the vertically movable frame, the operator will press downward on the lever handle 34:. This will rock the lever about its fulcrum, moving the cap transfer slide to the position shown in Figure 3, depressing the capping die 25 to apply the cap to the mouth of the bottle and permitting the magazine tube 15 and the caps therein to fall by gravity into the positions shown in Figure 3.

As the lever is restored to its elevated position, which movement is assisted by the spring 40, the cap transfer slide will be moved from the position shown in Figure 3 successively to that shown in Figures 4:. and 2. As the fingers 19 of the slide pass through the notches 20 the magazine tube will be bodily lifted and the weight of all of the caps above the lowest one removed from the bottom cap which is then in position to be engaged by the cross bar 18 and, as the movement of the slide is completed, said bottom cap will be moved over the dog 22 and into the position shown in Figure 2 beneath the capping die. As soon as the cap has passed the dog 22 the latter will be restored to its operative position, thus retaining the transferred cap in position to be applied to the mouth of a bottle at the next actuation of the lever.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: a

t 1. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support, a magazine for caps adapted to move bodily vertically ofsaid support, a capping head movable with the magaz1ne, a die within said head having a stem extending through the top thereof, a lever having a bifurcated member embracing and fulcrumed on the support, a yoke connecting the bifurcated arms of the lever to the die stem, a coiled spring surrounding the die stem and having one end bearing against an abutment thereon, an abutment on the support for the other end of the spring, a guideway leading from the lower end of the magazine into the capping head, a slide reciprocable on said guideway, and connections between said slide and lever for moving the slide to transfer the caps in the magazine successively to a position in alignment with the capping die at each rocking of the lever.

2. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support, a magazine for caps adapted to move bodily vertically of said support, a capping head movable with the magazine, a die within said head having a stem extending through the top thereof, a lever having a bifurcated member embracing and fulcrumed on the support, a yoke connecting the bifurcated arms of the lever to the, die stem, a coiled spring surrounding the die stem and having one end bearing against an abutment thereon, an abutment on the support for the other end of the spring, a guideway leading from below the magazine into the capping head, a slide reciprocable on, said guide-way, connections between said slide and lever for moving the slide to transfer the caps in the magazine successively to a position in alignment with the capping die as the lever is rocked, and a yielding stop for holding the transferred cap against movement toward the magazine when the slide is returned to normal position.

3. In a bottle capping machine, the combi nation of a support comprising a base, adapted to support a bottle in vertical position, and two uprights rising from said base, a frame adapted to riciprocate vertically between said uprights and comprising a substantially horizontal guide-way, a magazine for caps supported by and extending upward from said guide-way, a capping head on said guide-wayat one sideof the magazine, a die within said heat and having its stem extending through the top thereof, a lever fulcrumed on the support. and connected to move the die and frame carrying the capping head and magazine downward, a spring for restoring said parts to elevated position, a slide reciprocable along the guide-way, links connecting the lever and slide whereby by rocking the lever the slide will transfer the caps in the magazine successively to a position beneath the die, and a spring pressed stop movable through the bottom of the guide-way for preventing movement of said transferred cap from beneath the die toward the magazine on the return movement of the slide. a

4. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support comprising two spaced uprights, a frame extending between and bodily movable vertically of said uprights, said frame including a capping head having an aperture in its bottom through which the neck of a bottle to be capped will extend, a

holder for a series of caps on the vertically movable frame at one side of the capping head, a slide reciprocable in a substantially horizontal path on said vertically movable frame to transfer caps successively from said holder to a position in the capping head over the bottle neck receiving aperture therein, means for retaining the transferred cap in said position in the capping head when the slide is withdrawn, :1 die within the capping head in axial alignment with the bottle neck aperture in the bottom thereof, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected to the slide and the stem of the capping die for reciprocating them at each actuation of the lever.

5. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support, a frame movable vertically of said support and having an aperture to receive a bottle neck formed in its bottom, a capping head on said frame over and communicating with said aperture, a die within the head in axial alignment with said bottle receiving aperture, a magazine for a series of caps su ported on the frame at one side of the capping head, the lowermost cap in the series resting on the frame, a slide reciprocable on said frame and comprising two spaced fingers, adapted to relieve the lowermost cap of the series of the weight of the superposed caps, as the slide carries them through the magazine in moving toward the said aperture, and a cross bar adapted to engage said lowermost cap after the superposed caps have been lifted and move it to a position beneath the die, and a lever connected to move the vertically movable frame bodily and reciprocate the slide at each actua tion.

6. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support, a frame movable vertically of said support and provided in its bottom with an aperture through which the neck of a bottle to be capped may be inserted, a capping head on the Vertically movable frame over and communicating with said aperture, a die within said head, a holder for a cap magazine mounted on the frame at one side of the capping head and above the bottom of said frame, a cap magazine tube, adapted to contain a series of superposed caps, extending through said holder and movable vertically relative thereto, said tube and the lowest cap of the series therein normafly resting on the vertically movable frame, and the lower edge of the tube having two circumferentially spaced notches formed therein, a slide reciprocable on the vertically movable frame to transfer the lowermost cap of the series from the magazine to a position over said bottle receiving aperture and beneath the die, said slide having a pair of fingers adapted to pass through said notches at the lower end of the magazine tube for moving the magazine tube vertically and relieving the lowest cap of the weight of caps superposed thereon as the slide moves toward the die, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected to the frame and slide to move both said parts at each actuation.

7. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support comprising an upright, a frame bodily movable vertically of the support and including a cap magazine holder positioned over an aperture formed in the frame, a die mounted on the support and positioned in axial alignment with a second aperture in the frame adapted to receive a bottle neck when said frame is moved downward, a magazine for a series of superposed caps carried by said holder, a slide adapted to reciprocate on the frame and to successively transfer the lowest cap in the series from a position in alignment with the magazine to a position beneath the die, a yielding dog on the frame in the path of movement of and adapted to retain the transferred cap beneath the die, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected to l110"6 the frame and die relative to the support and to reciprocate the slide at each actuation, substantially as described.

8. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support including an upright, a substantially horizontal frame on said upright and provided with an aperture in its bottom through which a bottle neck may be positioned, a magazine for a series of caps supported on the frame at one side of said aperture, a slide adapted to reciprocate on the frame and to successively transfer caps from the magazine to a position over the said aperture, a recess being provided in the frame to receive a portion of the edge of the cap positioned over said aperture, :1. spring actuated dog adapted to engage the cap positioned over said aperture at a point substantially diametrically opposite said recess, a capping die arranged above the aperture in the frame, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected with the die and slide to move the die vertically and reciprocate the slide at each actuation.

9. In a bottle capping machine, the combination of a support including an upright, a substantially horizontal frame on said upright having an aperture in its bottom through which a bottle neck may be positioned, a magazine for aseries of caps supported on the frame at one side of said aperture, a slide reciprocable on the frame and including means for relieving the lowest cap of the series of the weight of the superposed caps and transferring said lowest cap to a position over said aperture as it moves in one direction, means yieldingly projecting through the bottom of the frame in the path of the slide for retaining said cap in such transferred position, as the slide moves in the opposite direction, a capping die arranged Cit above the aperture in the frame, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected with the die and slide to move the die vertically and reciprocate the slide at each actuation.

10. In a bottle capping machine the combination of a support including an upright, a substantially horizontal frame on said upright provided with an aperture in its bottom through which a bottle neck may be positioned, a magazine for a series of caps supported on the frame at one side of said aper ture, a slide reciprocable on the frame beneath the cap including a cross member and two fingers extending therefrom, said fingers being spaced apart sufiiciently to receive between them the lowest cap in the series and to relieve such cap of the weight of the superposed caps and the cross bar of the slide transferring the lowest cap of the series to a position over said aperture as it moves in one direction, a dog carried by a spring arm arranged under the frame, said dog normally projecting through the bottom of the frame between the magazine and said aperture in the frame whereby it will prevent movement of the transferred cap toward the magazine as the slide moves in that direction, a cap ping die arranged above the said aperture in the frame, and a lever fulcrumed on the support and connected with the die and slide to move the die vertically and reciprocate the slide at each actuation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM H. WALMSLEY. 

